Automatic leveling device



April 22 1924. 1,490,904

c. ANDERS AUTOMATIC LEVELING DEVICE Filed April 26. 1922 5 Sheets-Shet 1 April 22, 1924.

v C. ANDERS AUTOMATIC LEVELING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A24 w w Z ////es.s:

April 22, 1924. 1,490,904

C. ANDERS AUiOMAT I C LEVELING DEVI CE Filed April 26. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 was:

I 1,490,904 April 22 1924 C 'ANDERS AUTOMATIC LEVELING DEVICE Filed April as. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g6 1 27 i I g I %M% %W all /7868f Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES CLARK ANDERS, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC LEVELING DEVICE.

Application filed April 26, 1922/ Serial No. 556,814.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK ANnERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Leveling Devices, of which th following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic leveling devices. The object of my invention is to provide novel means for supporting on an unstable support, such as a deck of a ship or airplane, and in a level condition, a platform or emplacement adapted for the support of a gun, billiard table or article which it is desired to retain in a level condition notwithstanding the tilting or pitching of the ship.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel leveling means automatically actuated by the tilting of the vessel for ret aining the platform in a level position. In the use of the word platform in the specification and claims, I mean to include any frame which can be utilized as a support for the article that is to be held in the level position.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1. is a vertical sectional view on th line l1 of F ig. 5, showing my improved leveling device as applied to the deck of a vessel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of my improved device, the deck being shown tilted with respect to the platform.

Fig. l is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line l4t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the motor clutches.

designate holes in which are fitted two pairs of screws, v

one pair of screws 3 bein located in a vertical plane disposed at right angles to a ver-' tical plane in which are located the pair of screws 4 located in the vertical plane which intersects the plane of the screws 3 midway between the latter. In like manner, the plane of the screws 3 is located midway between th screws 4. The screws 3 and 4 are respectively mounted on pedestals 5 mounted in and movable with the deck 2.

For preserving the level of the platform 1 when the deck 2 tilts in the plane of the screws 4, means are provided by which, when the screws are threaded in the right direction, one of the screws will be turned in one direction and the other screw 4 will be turned in the other direction, so as to effect a relative swinging movement of the platform 1 on the screws 3.

For turning the screws 4 simultaneously in the opposite directions, each of the screws 4: has attached to it a bevel gear wheel 6, Figs. 1 and 4, which at the inner sides thereof respectively mesh with bevel gear wheels 7 which are rigidly secured to a horizontal central shaft 8, mounted at its ends respectively in two yokes 9, which are respec-.

tively mounted on the screws 4, the latter being revoluble in said yokes.

A similar shaft 8 is connected by similar gearing to the two screws 3. For turning one of the screws 4: in one direction, it has secured to it a pulley 9, Figs. 4 and 5, on which is mounted a belt 10, mounted on a pulley 11, which is rotatable on an armature shaft 12, of a motor 13.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it will be noted that the pulley 12 has rigidly attached to it a ratchet wheel l fwith which engages a pawl 15 pivoted on a horizontal pin 16, which is mounted in a disk 17 which is rigidly secured to and rotatable with the armature shaft 11 and which carries an electromagnet 18 arranged to attract an armature 19 carried by the pawl 15, so that when the magnet 18'is energized, the pawl will be drawn into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 14. For normally holding the pawl 15 disengaged from the ratchet wheel 14, it has attached to it the inner end of a radial coiled spring 20, the outer end of which is attached to a horizontal pin 21, which is mounted in the disk 17 When the electro-magnet 18 is energized, it will draw the pawl 15 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 14, and as the armature shaft and disk 17 rotate counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 7, the pawl 15 will rotate the ratchet wheel 14 and the pulley 12 counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 7,whereupon the belt 10 and pulley 9 will rotate the adjacent screw 4 in one direction, thus raising or lowering the platform 1, depending upon the direction of lead of the thread of the screw 4, which is rotated thereby.

When the magnet 18 is deenergized,,the spring 20 will release the pawl 15 from the ratchet wheel 14, thus permitting the latter and the pulley wheel 12 to turn in the reverse direction, without having the armature shaft 11 rotated in said reverse direction.

To reverse the direction of rotation of the screw 4 having attached to it the pulley 9, said screw has attached to it a pulley 22 on which is mounted a belt 23 which is mounted on a pulley 12 rotatable on an armature shaft 11 of an electromotor 24, Fig. 5. The pulley 12 of the motor 24 is connected with the armature of the motor 24 in the same manner as described in connection with the motor 13, and as shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 7, and Fig. 8.

When the motor 13 is in circuit, with a suitable source of current, it will, through the intermediacy of the belt 10 and mech anism connected therewith turn the adjacent screw 4 in one direction and through the intermediacy of the adjacent shaft 8 and connecting gearing already described, it will turn the other screw 4 in an opposite direction to the turning of the first named screw 4. The motor connections and directions of turning of the screws 4 will be such as to tilt the platform 1 relatively to the deck 2 in a direction opposite to the tilting of the latter in the vertical plane of the screws 4. In

, order that the tilting of the deck may eifect simultaneous proper tilting of the platform 1 to retain the latter in the level position, means are provided for alternately placing the motors 13 and 14 in circuit with an electrio generator 25, Fig. 9. The latter has at one end of a horizontal bar 31, Figs. 1, 4'

and 5, which is pivoted centrally on a horizontal axis to a bracket 32, Fig. 5, attached to a central pedestal 33, having a spherical socket 34, in its upper end, in which is pivoted a substantially spherical lower end of a central downwardly extending projection 35 on the under side of the platform 1.

Two tanks 36 and 37 are mounted on the deck 2 at. the outer sides of the screws 4 in the vertical plane of the latter. A conductor 38 has its ends respectively connected to the bottoms of the tanks 36 and 37, so that water may flow in both directions from one tank to the other. A shut-off valve 39 is located in the conductor 38 which also contains a drain valve 40 by which the tanks may be emptied.

In the tanks respectively are floats 41 and 42 which are respectively secured to the lower ends of two vertical bars 43 and 44, the upper ends of which are pivoted to the bar 31. As the deck 2 tilts in the plane of the screws 4, the water in one tank will run therefrom through the conductor 38 into the other tank, thereby causing the lifting of one float when the other falls.

Mounted on the hub of each disk 17 and insulated from the hub by an insulating ring 45 is a contact ring 46 on which bears a contact plate 47, Fig. 9. The contact ring 46 is connected with one end of the winding of the adjacent magnet 18, the other end of the winding being connected with the disk 17.

The contact 30 is disposed between an upper contact .48 and a lower contact 49. The contact 48 is connected by a conductor 50 with one brush of the motor 13, the other brush of which is connected by a conductor 51 with a contact plate 52 which bears on the metal disk 17 adjacent thereto.

The contact 49 is connected by a conductor 53 with one brush of the motor 24, the other brush of which is connected by a conductor 54 with the contact plate 52 which bears on the disk 17 carried by the armature shaft of the motor 24, Fig. 9.

When the tank 36 lowers, the bar 31 will swing to bring the contact 30 adjacent thereto against the adjacent contact 48. The current from the generator 25 will then pass as follows :through the conductors 26 and 28, contact 30 adjacent thereto, thence through the conductor 50 by way of the contact 48, thence through the motor 13, conductor 51, contact plate 52, adajacent disk 17, adjacent magnet 18, adjacent ring contact 46, contact plate 47 and thence by con ductors 29 and 27 back to the generator 25. The motor 13 being thus energized will, through the intermediacy of the belt 10 and connecting mechanism, turn the screws 4 so as to tilt the platform 1 in a direction opposite to the tilting of the deck, thereby retaining the. platform 1 substantially level.

Thus when the tank 36 lowers, the direcform over the tank 36 will rise.

When the tank36 rises, the bar 31. will bring the contact.30 against the contact 49. The current will then pass from the genera tor 25 through the conductors 26 and 28, contacts 30 and49, conductor 53, motor 24',

conductor 54, adjacent contact plate 52, ad jacent disk 17, adjacent magnet 18, adj acentv ring contact 46, adjacent cont-act plate 47, and thence by a conductor to the conductor 27 and motor 25. The motor24 will thus be energizedand, through the intermediacy of the belt 23. andconneoting mechanism will turn the screws 4 in a di nected in circuit and will effect the alternate lifting and lowering of the platform so as.

to-keep itsubstantially level. v

The valve39may'be used as a regulating valve to control. the-flow of water through the pipe 38, or. it may be used to'close the connection between the tanks 36 and 37 for any purpose.

To preserve the level off-the platform 1,.

when the deck 2 tilts in the plane of the screws {3, the latter are simultaneously turned in opposite directions, being threaded in alike direction, by. the-central horizontal shaft 8, which is adjacent thereto, and which is at right angles tothe shaft 8 connecting the screws 4,-through the intermediacy of gears 6 and 7,, adjacent thereto, arranged with reference to thescre'ws 8 in the same manner as ar the gears 6 and 7, connected with the screws 4.

For turning one of the screws 3, ithas attached to itftwo pulley wheels 56 and 57, Fig. 5, to which are respectively connected belts 58 and .59, which respectively engage pulleys 60 and 61, respectively 'securedtothe armature shafts 62-and 63, of two elec-' tric jmotors 64, and 65. When the electric motor 64 is connected in circuit with .the-

generator 25, it will, in running, turn the adjacent screw 3 in one direction. When the motor 65isin circuit withthe generator actuatedmechanism corresponding in function, construction and operation to that con-, trolling the energizing of'the motors 13- and,

24, is provided.

Mounted on the. deck 2 in thevertical plane of the screws-3, and at opposite sides thereof, are twotanks 66 and 67 whiehare connected at their bottom. by a horizontal pipe68, corresponding to the pipe 38,.and provided with a shut-ofl" valve 69, and a drain valve 70, see Fig. 5. Mounted respectively in the tanks 66 and 67 ,are floats 41-and 42, carrying respectively two vertical bars 43 and 44, the'upper ends of which are/pivoted to a transverse bar31, corre-" sponding in, function and construction to the bar-31'already described, but disposed-at right angles thereto. One end of the bar31- which extends over the tank 67 has secured to it: a contact 30,which is disposed between and is adapted to strike alternately, as the deck tilts back and forth in the plane of the screws 3, an upper contact 48, and

a lower contact 49, disposed one above the.

other and respectively connected incircuit with themotors-64 and 65, in the same 1nanner as are the other pair of contacts 48 and 49, with respect to the motors 13 and 24, as shown in Fig. 9. x i Q When the ,deck tilts in the plane of the screws 3,.- inone direction, the motor. 64

will be connectedin circuit and Wlllutlll'fl the screws in -a direction to preserve the level of theplatform: 1, and when the deck tilts in the opposite direction, the motor 65.

will be connectedin circuit so as to turn the adjacent screw 3 in the opposite .direc-.-

pin73, mountedin two lateral ears 74 and 75, on the bar 71., A coil spring 76. en circles the pin '73 and bears at--its lower.

end againstthe contact 48, and at its upper and against the ear 75. A'nut177 on the upper end of the pin 73 limitsthe downward movement of the latter and contact 48;

The contact 49 is mounted on the upper end of a pin .78 verticallyslidalble .in two 1 ears 7 9 and 80 on. the bar 71. A coil'spring 81 encircles the pin78 and bears-at its lower end against the ear'SO- and'atits upper end against the contact49. A nut 82011 the" lower end. ofthe pin 78 is .adaptedto strike:

the ear 79 to limit theupward movement. of the pin 78-.-

A guide; bar 83. bracket 84, which is secured to. Ethel adjacent tank 36;or' 67, as-the case may be, has

its ends securedtmthe' bar 71-1 adjacent thereto and serves. to guide; the latter as the decktilts. I,The springs 76 and .81 are" compressed as the contact; 30 alternately Veaian slidab-le in a.

' proper making and breaking of the circuit by means of the contact 30. This distance may be varied by adjusting the nuts 77 and 82.

vThe screws 4, as are "the screws 3, are located equi-distant from the central projection 35.".The tanks 36' and 37, as are the tanks 66 and 67, are located equi-dis' 'tant from the central projection 35. 7

From the foregoing, it will be understood that when the deck 2 oscillates in the ver-' tical plane of the screws 4, the latter will be turned, through the intermediacy of the motors 13 and 24, floats 41 and 42, and parts connected therewith, so as to keep the platform from tilting in like directions with the deck. In like manner the screws 3' will be turned by the motors 64 and 65, operating in connection with the floats in the tanks 66 and 67, and parts connected therewith, to keep the platform from tilting in the plane of'the screws 3, when the deck tilts in the plane of thelatter. r

Respectively mounted in the pipes 38 and 68 are two upstanding vertical glass tubes- 85 and 86 having open ends and which are disposed respectively adjacent to the center of the platform 1, for indicating the amount of. water in the tanks '36 and-37 and the V tanks; 66 and 67.

vBy having -the central projection 35' mounted in the'spherical socket 34, the platform 1 is adapted to swing in any direction with respect to the deck 2. The lower ends of the screws 3 and 4 may be rounded and 'may rest on fiat upper ends of the permit the screws to platform, said pair 'of screws being dis-1 pedestals 5 so as to slide thereon.

;I do not limit my invention to-the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of myinventiom V What I claim is 1. In a mechanism o-fthe'kind described, the combinationwith an unstable support,

such as the deck of a ship, of a platform,

two. vertical screws having threaded engage; mentwith said platform and supporting the latter and supported by said: support, means" for simultaneously turning said screws in directions such that one screw will raise and the other screw will'lower the platform, and meansactu'ated by the tilting of said support for controlling the operation of saidscrewrturning means, substantially '60' asset forth. a V n '2'. In a mechanism of the kind described,

screws having means when simultaneously turned by which one screw will raise andthe other screw will lower said platform" when said screws are turned in the proper directions, and means actuated by the tilting of said support for controlling the operation of said screw turning means, substantially as set forth. j

'3'. In a mechanism of the kinddescribed,

the combination with an unstable support,

such as the deck of a ship, of a platform, two vertical screws threaded in like directions and supporting said platform and supported by said support and having threaded engagement with said platform, means for turning said screws simultaneously in opposite directions, and means actuated by the tilting of said support for controlling the'operation of said screw turning means, substantially as set" forth. 7 r r a 4. In a mechanism of the kind described, the combination with an'unstable support, such as the deck of a ship, of a platform, two screws supported bysaid support :and having .vertica engagement with said platform,

'mean's intermediate ofjsaid screws ,for piv totally supporting said platform on said support on a horizontal axisi'at right anglesto the vertical plane of said two screwsythe screws being arranged to tilt the platform on its axis when the, screws are turned in the proper direction, means for so turning said screws, and means actuated 'by the tilting of said support for controlling the operation of said screw turning-means, substantially as set forth.

5, In a mechanism of the kind described, the combination with an unstable support,of a platform, two pairs of vertical screws sup ported by said support and supporting said posed in'two vertical planes'res ectively' at right angles to each th two mdependefit means for respectively turning said i V, V 7

screws in'directions such that the screws of each pair will respectively raise and lower; said platform, and independent means actuat'edby the tilting "of saidsupport for respec'tively controllii'ig said two screw turnei V r 6. Ina mechanism of thekind described,

ing means, 'substa ntiallyasset forth? the combination'with anun'stable support,

of a platform, apedestallon said support 'onwhich said plat'form is centrally pivoted, 1 .screwsupported-by said supportand sup -l porting-said platform and arrangedwhen' respectively turned in opposite directions to raise and lower one .end'of said platform on said pedestal, twomotors, means'actuate'd, V by saidfmotor's-for turning said screw in-;op- I p'osite directions respectively, and meansfao" tuated by the tilting of. said support'up" wardly' and downwardly for alternately as x fecting the operation ofsaid;motorgfsub stantially as set forth.

7. In a mechanism of the kind described, the combination with an unstable support, of a platform, a pedestal on said support on which said platform is centrally pivoted, a vertical screw supporting said platform and supported by said support and arranged when turned in opposite directions to alternately raise and lower one end of said platform on said pedestal, a circuit including said two motors and circuit controlling means by which the current in said circuit can alternately operate said motors, means actuated by said motors for alternately turning said screw in opposite directions, and means actuated by the tilting of said support for actuating said circuit controlling means, substantially as set forth.

8. In a mechanism of the kind described, the combination with an unstable support, of a platform, a pedestal on said support on which said platform is centrally pivoted, a vertical screw supporting said platform and supported by said support, and arranged to raise and lower one end of said platform on said pedestal when the screw is alternately turned in opposite directions, a circuit in cluding two motors and circuit controlling means arranged to alternately connect said motors in circuit, means actuated by said motors for turning said screw alternately in opposite directions, a liquid container on said support in which the level of the liquid is varied when the support tilts, a float carried by the liquid in said container, and means actuated by said float for controlling the operation of said circuit controlling means, substantially asset forth.

9. In a mechanism of the kind described, the combination with an unstable support, of a platform, two pairs of vertical screws disposed respectively in vertical planes at right angles to each other, the plane of one pair being intermediate of the two screws of the other pair, said screws being supported by said support and supporting said platform, each screw being arranged to alternately raise and lower said platform when turned in opposite directions, two means for independently turning the screws of said pairs, each of said screw turning means being arranged to turn the screws of its pair in directions such that one screw of the pair will raise and the other screw of the pair lower the platform, means actuated by the tilting of said support in one vertical plane for effecting the operation of one of said screw turning means, and means actuated by the tilting of said support in a direction at right angles to the last named vertical plane for efiecting the operation of the other of said screw turning means, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARK ANDERS. 

